Your abs are made up of four abdominal muscles -- the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique and transverse abdominis -- all of which function to stabilize your midsection. Abdominal strength is foundational for the rest of your body's movements, because these muscles protect and stabilize your spine. Therefore, ab exercises are an important part of any workout regimen and they're easy to fit into your schedule, wherever you are. A door frame is an effective and convenient tool to help you achieve abdominal strength.

Considerations

Before using any door frame as a piece of fitness equipment, make sure it's sturdy, free of rusty nails and out of a high-traffic area. For your own safety, consult a medical doctor prior to engaging in any abdominal exercises, as they may be unsafe for those with medical conditions like low back pain or a hernia. Each exercise requires you to tighten your abdominal muscles, which increases the pressure to your midsection.

Modified Half Moon

To target your oblique muscles, a side bend causes them to stretch and contract. To practice, begin by standing in the middle of the door frame with your arms straight up above your head. Keeping your hips in line with the door frame, tighten your stomach muscles and begin to press your hip toward the right side of the frame, while your arms reach for the top left corner of the frame. Once you feel a slight stretch in your right side, slowly re-center your hips and arms. Repeat eight to 10 times on each side.

Diagonal Wood Chops

To perform a functional activity, meaning the movement pattern mimics everyday activities, begin by standing in the middle of the door frame. Tighten your stomach muscles to protect your lower back and reach both of your hands up to touch the top right corner of the frame. Draw an invisible line from the top right corner to your left hip, keeping both of your hips facing forward. As you draw the line, imagine your left oblique muscles crunching together. Repeat eight to 10 times on each side.

Reverse Crunches

For this exercise use a door-frame-mounted pullup bar. Most available products don't require fixing it to the frame, so you won't damage the door frame or have to leave it attached permanently. Reverse crunches curl your lower body toward your chest, which targets your rectus abdominis muscle primarily. To practice, begin by gripping the pullup bar with an over-handed grip. Hang from the bar, with your arms straight, beside your ears. Tighten your stomach muscles and with your knees bent, curl them up toward your chest. Avoid swinging to achieve this movement. Repeat eight to 10 times.

About the Author

Erika McAuley is a freelance writer from Abbotsford, British Columbia. As an exercise rehabilitation professional, she has been preventing and treating musculoskeletal injuries in athletes and civil workers since 2008. McAuley holds a Bachelor of Human Kinetics in athletic therapy from Trinity Western University and an Advanced Certificate in Athletic Therapy from Mount Royal University.